Thapa denies speculations of his switch to BJP

SNS, KURSEONG/ DARJEELING, 16 DEC 2020 : Amid speculations and rumours that have spread like wildfire that leaders of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, BinoyTamang and Anit Thapa are all set to join the BJP, Mr Thapa today clarified that they have their own party and do not intend to make such a switch. "We are Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, and we have been working with an alliance with the Trinamul Congress. We are a regional party in the Hills and we work as that," Mr Thapa told The Statesman over the phone.

However, very reliable sources today said that the two Morcha leaders may join the BJP very soon.

It may be mentioned here that there were media reports today that said that the Morcha leaders, who rushed to Kolkata for an "emergent assignment" yesterday, had been in touch with the BJP leadership and that they were planning a switch, given the changing political scenario in the Hills, especially after the return of Bimal Gurung, the leader of another camp of the Morcha, to the region after over three years in hiding and his announcement to support the TMC in next year's Assembly elections.

"People are confused by media reports that are published without them doing some homework or asking us for our opinion," said Mr Thapa, who is also the Chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

"We are GJMM and we will remain so. We have not thought of joining any other party, now or in the future," he added, when asked about the speculations that had been doing the rounds in the region.

Amid the talk, spokesperson for the Morcha (Tamang camp), Keshavraj Pokhrel, also issued a note in Darjeeling, rubbishing such claims and speculations.

"The news spreading in different media houses and social media pages regarding theGJM (Binoy faction) joining hands with BJP is totally baseless, fake, rumours and speculations," Mr Pokhrel said in the note.